Environmental Specialist III

Sarasota County; Nokomis (FL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision plans

Life Insurance

Florida Retirement System (FRS)

Job summary

Sarasota County is seeking an Environmental Specialist III to lead environmental resource management initiatives in coastal environments and oversee contracted landscape maintenance services. The role supports environmental stewardship and operational excellence through land and waterway projects and contractor oversight.

The position requires a biology/environmental science background with 3 years of professional experience; Florida pesticide license or ability to obtain within 6 months is

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or a related field and 3 years of professional experience.
• A master’s degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.
• State of Florida pesticide applicators license with endorsement in Natural Areas or ability to obtain within 6 months after hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead habitat improvement projects and invasive species control.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external agencies on derelict vessels and waterway issues.
• Inspect landscape maintenance by contractors for quality, safety, and compliance.
• Maintain field equipment (boats, GPS, etc.) and assist in prescribed fire operations as needed.
• Provide public outreach and distribute environmental education materials.

Skills

Coast Guard boater safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology / ecology / environmental sciences

Master’s degree may substitute for 1 year experience

Tools

Pesticide applicator license (Natural Areas endorsement)

Job description

Department: Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here. Are you passionate about the environment and looking to make a difference in the community? The Environmental Specialist III role is responsible for leading environmental resource management initiatives within coastal environments while also overseeing contracted landscape maintenance services. This role supports both environmental stewardship and operational excellence by leading land and waterway management projects and providing oversight of landscape contractors to maintain safe, clean, and visually appealing park spaces. Benefits begin within 60 days of hire, and there are opportunities for advancement.

About the Position

• Lead habitat improvement projects, invasive species control, ecological surveys, park improvements, derelict vessel removal, and artificial reef initiatives.
• Serve as liaison with internal departments and external agencies regarding derelict vessels, waterway access, and navigation issues and improvements.
• Maintain field equipment (boats, GPS, small equipment, etc.) and assist in prescribed fire operations as needed.
• Develop and distribute environmental education materials and provide public outreach and technical assistance.
• Inspect landscape maintenance work performed by contractors at Siesta Beach Park to ensure quality, safety, and contract compliance.
• Maintain accurate inspection reports, provide contractor feedback, and collaborate with Contract Managers on performance reviews.
• Submit or verify work orders, review payment justifications, and assist in landscape-related project planning.
• Support vegetation control, minor planting oversight, and herbicide application tracking within assigned areas.
• Perform outdoor fieldwork using small equipment such as chainsaws, trimmers, and sprayers to support land/vegetation management and maintenance tasks in varying site and weather conditions.
• Conduct public outreach by providing education on coastal natural resources, responding to community inquiries, supporting civic and agency partnerships, and coordinating with media and volunteers to promote division goals.

About the Schedule

• Work Hours: Full-Time, 40 hours per week.
• Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (no weekends!)
• All county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or a related field -AND- three (3) years of professional experience.
• A master’s degree may substitute for one year of professional experience.
• Progressively responsible professional experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.
• State of Florida pesticide applicators license with an endorsement in Natural Areas or the ability to obtain within 6 months after hire (we can help with this!).

Preferred Qualifications

• United States Coast Guard boater safety certifications.
• Limited Lawn and Ornamental applicator endorsement.
• Wildland fire certifications in S-130 and S-190.
• Scuba diving certification.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening

This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of five years.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay: $58,947.00/annually

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

Benefits

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more!
• Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)

Diversity and Inclusion

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance). Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.

About Sarasota

Do you like leaving things better than you found them? We serve the greater good! Our team is here to make Sarasota the premier community to live, work and play! Sarasota has 37 miles of award-winning beaches, over 80 parks and 100 golf courses, and is known as the cultural capital of Florida with museums of art, theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens and the annual international film festival. Unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural offering, diverse educational opportunities, wide-ranging recreational possibilities make Sarasota a great place to live and work! We believe in work-life balance with a generous leave plan. "US News & World Report: Sarasota is No. 1 in Florida and No. 18 in the country for best place to live." We need YOU to help create wonderful experiences for residents and vacationing guests enjoying Sarasota.